Trade-off questions that show what customers would give up
Ask customers to split points, pick between pairs and rank short lists, so every answer has a cost. Each question below comes with when to ask it and what the answer tells you.
What prioritization survey questions tell you
Prioritization survey questions make customers choose: they split 100 points, pick one side of a pair or rank a short list. Ask customers to rate each idea on its own and most ideas look important, while a trade-off shows which ones they would keep when they can't have all of them.
Ask before a planning round, by email to active customers or in a popup inside your web app. Pick one points question or one ranking, one or two pairs and the open question on why, and edit the options to match the choices your team is weighing.
Results shows the average points per item for points questions, the average place per item for rankings and a split bar for each pair. Selecting an answer filters the whole page, so you can see what customers who chose Power over Simplicity put first elsewhere.
- Questions
- 11
- Best asked
- A few weeks before a planning round
- Industry
- Any business
- Where to find them
- From library in the Usertick survey editor, on every plan
The 11 priorities and trade-offs questions, with when to ask each
Grouped by what they tell you. Use them as they are or change the wording.
Splitting a budget
Points questions give every customer the same budget, so more for one area means less for another.
- 01Points allocation
Split 100 points across what matters most to you:
Customers spread 100 points across performance, design, integrations and reporting. Results shows the average points per item, so you can see which area customers would fund first.
- 02Points allocation
If you ran our roadmap, where would you invest?
Puts the customer in charge of your roadmap budget. A high average for stability or speed over new features tells you to fix what exists before you add more.
- 10Points allocation
Distribute 100 points across next quarter's bets:
The same four bets as the ranking, with 100 points to split. Results shows the average points per item, so you can see how far ahead the first choice is.
Picking between two
Pairs force a quick choice, which shows the direction customers lean when two good things compete.
- 03This or that
Which matters more to you?
Two quick pairs on what customers value. Results shows a split bar per pair, and selecting one side filters the page to the customers who chose it.
- 04This or that
When you buy tools like this, what wins?
One pair on price against quality. Ask it with a profile question, and read the split by industry or team size to see which customers would pay more for better work.
- 05This or that
When you get stuck, what do you reach for?
Whether customers reach for your help pages or a person when they are stuck. The split tells you how to balance your investment between self-serve help and your support team.
Ranking what matters
Rankings put a short list in order, which suits choices your team has already narrowed down.
- 06Ranking
Rank these areas by how much they need work:
Customers put four areas in order of how much they need work. Results shows the average place per item, and you can edit the list so it holds the areas your team is choosing between.
- 09Ranking
Rank what you miss most:
Customers rank four capabilities they miss. Pair it with the points question on the same four to see whether the order holds when each choice has a cost.
- 11Ranking
Pick the three things that matter most to you
Customers pick and order the three things that matter most when they choose a company like yours. Results shows the average place per item, a guide for what your marketing should lead with.
The reasons behind the choices
Ask why after the trade-offs, so you know what customers expect each choice to fix.
- 07Text
If we could only fix one thing this quarter, what should it be?
The one fix customers want this quarter. Ask it after the trade-off questions, once customers have weighed the options, and read the themes before planning starts.
- 08Text
Tell us why you chose that trade-off.
Asks customers to explain the trade-off they made. Each answer gets a theme, so you learn what problem in their work the choice is meant to solve.
Tips for asking about priorities and trade-offs
Small choices that get honest, useful answers.
- 01
Make every choice cost something
Use points, pairs and rankings instead of a rating for each idea, since a rating lets customers call everything important.
- 02
Edit the options to your real choices
Replace the library options with the ideas your team is weighing, and keep each list to four to six items.
- 03
Ask why after the choice
Follow the trade-offs with an open question, so a high score for an area comes with the problem behind it.
- 04
Compare groups of customers
Select a choice in Results to filter the page, and compare what large accounts and small ones put first.
Add these questions to a survey
From the library to the first answers.
- 1
Open the library
In the Usertick survey editor, choose From library, filter by industry and topic, and add several questions at once.
- 2
Or paste your own list
Paste questions reads up to 10 questions from any text on Free, 100 on Starter and 200 on Pro and above, keeps your wording and picks an answer type for each.
- 3
Choose where it runs
Show the survey on your website, send it by email, share its link and QR code, or switch it to a conversation.
- 4
Read the answers
Results counts every score and choice, and Usertick reads each written answer and files it by topic, on every plan.
Templates and more questions about priorities and trade-offs
Full surveys that ask about the same things, and neighboring topics in the library.
Templates
Browse all templatesFrequently asked questions
Points allocation when you want to know how far apart the options are, ranking when the order is enough and this or that for a quick choice between two directions.
Four to six. A short list keeps each choice meaningful, and the options can be edited after you add the question.
A few weeks before a planning round, so the answers arrive in time. Usertick sends to a contact list now or on a date up to 30 days ahead.
Active customers who use the areas you are choosing between. From Starter, targeting by user traits shows the survey only to the accounts you pick, such as those on a paid plan.
Yes. The question library comes with every plan, the free plan included, and the free plan covers 150 responses a month across your surveys.
Yes. Once a question is in your survey, reword it, change its options or its answer type, and add logic to skip it for some answers.
Yes. The library is translated into Usertick's built-in languages, and in any other language it shows in English for you to translate.
Listen better, act faster, and build what truly matters.
Start free, see what your customers mean, and get each answer to the person who can act on it.
- 150 responses a month on Free
- Every channel and AI analysis
- No card needed